By CHARLIE PIETERICK

Basketball Dad

The Vashon Pirate boys basketball team returned to winning form last week, taking two games from league rivals. They are now 11-1 on the season and 4-1 in league play.

On Tuesday, the Life Christian Eagles came into the Pirate port of call, hoping to spoil a predicted Pirate win.

With an effective and physical zone defense, they did manage to keep the Pirates out of the paint during the first quarter.

Making adjustments, the Pirates long- range assassins unleashed a flurry of 3-pointers in the second period.

Juniors Max Burnham and Thomas Timm-Skove and sophomore Matt Kerns (twice) all found the long mark to reassert Pirate dominance as they took a 29-18 lead into the half.

The Pirates hiccupped on their first possession of the second half, turning the ball over in a moment of indecision.

But with the Eagles needing to respect the Pirate outside game, the Pirates went to work in the paint. Sophomore mainmast John Gage put in the first 10 Pirate points of the quarter to push the Pirate lead.

Burnham and Timm-Skove drove in against beleaguered Eagle defenders.

Coach Andy Sears then served the Eagles a salmagundi of bench players, all eager to add to the Eagles’ indigestion.

Spoil indeed! Bristling with this assortment of weaponry, Coach Sears guided the Pirate ship back to port in a 63-41 victory.

At Orting on Friday, the Pirates re-rigged a bit and went on a mid-season shakedown cruise.

The Pirates’ sails were not fully set to the wind in the early minutes. The Cardinals took advantage, sinking a couple of uncontested 3s, keeping the game close through much of the first quarter.

The Pirates appeared to be working out some of the problems they’d been having with teams doubling down on Pirate post players.

In earlier games, balls into the middle would be stripped as the post players made their moves to the basket.

At Orting, the Pirates were effective at recognizing the pressure on the posts and driving the lane or finding the second man for scores.

Midway through the second period, the Pirates, turning downwind, hoisted their spinnaker on a 12-2 run to close the half with a 36-21 margin.

This run was punctuated by a particular act of Pirate thievery. Stealing a Cardinal pass, sophomore Kerns ran the court and, under defensive pressure, reverse-spun to put up a soft-touch jumper for two. NBA-Live!

The second half was all-Vashon. The Pirate bench, getting stronger with each outing, helped keep the Cardinals caged for the final 78-38 depluming.